I despair sometimes

If it's for closure then just think of the Psychic as a cheap Psychiatrist, £60 ain't bad for that. A few magic words to change their mindset and it's done. They just need to be said be a certain person to set them in.
 
benccritchley said:
These things always seem like bs to me :/
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They don't seem like bs, they are bs. It's unfortunate that people pay good money for this kind of 'treatment' but some people need assurance and to take it away can be very detrimental to their health.
It's a similar situation to Chiropractic treatment.
 
While I can understand the argument for closure, is that really what they will be getting? These people thrive off repeat business.

Personally I don't think delusion is ever the answer, if they need therapy they should seek it from a trained individual. This kind of magical thinking not only covers genuine problem's with flimsy solutions but also discourages rational thinking.

Once reason is abandoned in favour or wishful thinking they open themselves up for future charlatans to exploit them financially. Next thing you know they are paying £30 an hour for magic healing & angel therapy.

There isn't a shred of evidence in favour of these concepts & until some is presented these claim makers should be ignored.
 
Earlier this year I went to see Derren Brown who had a psychic reading part in his show and he was 100% accurate on the 4 people he picked on and one was the daughter of a work colleague so wasn't a setup.
After a few questions going between me and her daughter via text I realised how he had done it but she hadn't worked it out.

There's a great Penn & Teller BS episode on psychics where a bloke is told things about his mother and he swore blind he told the psychic nothing until they played the film back.
 
i must admit, i sit on the 'its bs' side of things.

I dont believe there is anyone who can talk/tune/feel the dead as i believe once you die your gone, thats it, finished.

Having said this though, i did experience something that did/does sometimes make me wonder.

my mum was an art teacher she died when i was 8.....around 6 or 7 years later i was on a trip to france, sitting on the bus talking about the trip, when a mate of mine (who had never met my mum, or knew anything about her) said 'oh, we could go visit that red village your mum liked'

I told him honestly (or so i thought ) that my mum had never been to france and that he didnt even meet her, i didnt used to talk about her much either.

After my week away, i got home and told me old man, and he showed me a photo of a drawing my mum did of collonges la rouge in france!!

Aparrently before meeting my old man, way before i was born she spent some time there drawing...

It could have course been a coinsidence, and my mate didnt know why he said it, so i chalk it down to just being a bit strange!
 
If it brings them a little peace then there is no harm in spending thirty quid. I would start taking notice if they started making a habit of it.
 
Mate, it's like religious people, you could show them definitive proof their beliefs are ******** but they'd use some twisted circular logic to say you're wrong.
 
I know a few people who go to these sort of things, or individual readings.

My question to them is "why do contacted spirits NEVER give you bad news, or expose lies, or generally help out with anything negative that might be happening that they should have visibility on?".

It always stuff like "I'm watching over you, don't worry about that vague thing, all will be well." and never "You have undiagnosed cancer and your wife is cheating on you."
 
krooton said:
I know a few people who go to these sort of things, or individual readings.

My question to them is "why do contacted spirits NEVER give you bad news, or expose lies, or generally help out with anything negative that might be happening that they should have visibility on?".

It always stuff like "I'm watching over you, don't worry about that vague thing, all will be well." and never "You have undiagnosed cancer and your wife is cheating on you."
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Indeed.

The fact they give nothing but vague sentiment & meaningless platitudes should be the most telling part of the whole charade.

The forer effect already proves it's easy to do the above while maintaining an illusion of accuracy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forer_effect

It's the same kind of rubbish as astrology, with the below chart being an aggregate of hundreds of thousands of accounts on data websites for matches (by star sign), you would think this would be taken as evidence against it but you can't argue people out of a position using reason, they didn't arrive at using it.

CvOwHGB.png
 
OP should drop a few hints to Sally

Relatives magically get told their dead relations are drinking tea in heaven,
beliefs confirmed, go away happy.

So long as you keep quiet that was £30 well spent.
If you can think of any other way you could spend £30 that would improve on that, do so.
 
I find it disturbing how many people in this topic would let their relatives pay money to be manipulated and lied to...
 
Dimple said:
Earlier this year I went to see Derren Brown who had a psychic reading part in his show and he was 100% accurate on the 4 people he picked on and one was the daughter of a work colleague so wasn't a setup.
After a few questions going between me and her daughter via text I realised how he had done it but she hadn't worked it out.

There's a great Penn & Teller BS episode on psychics where a bloke is told things about his mother and he swore blind he told the psychic nothing until they played the film back.
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The difference Derren Brown makes clear on his shows that what he does is showmanship.
 
AJK said:
I find it disturbing how many people in this topic would let their relatives pay money to be manipulated and lied to...
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Is it really that different to attending religious functions? Payment may not be mandatory, but it is usually expected from regulars.
 
Duff-Man said:
Is it really that different to attending religious functions?
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Yes. Organised religion isn't comparable to a bunch of charlatans using various "cold reading" techniques and technical trickery to pretend they can speak to the dead.
 
A while ago there was a article on I think local TV and they set up a mind reader tent in I think again a town center and gave free readings -- They had first person - just someone off street and sat her down - asked her name and where about she lived - -- The guy then started to tell her things about herself which this guy could never know - what bank she used - colour of clothes she wore etc - all very accurate -- When he finshed he stood up and opened curtain and behind was team of experts on PC's who found out all the info from net.

He did this with a number of people.

Was quite impressive the amount of info there is on you out there.

Dave
 
AJK said:
Yes. Organised religion isn't comparable to a bunch of charlatans using various "cold reading" techniques and technical trickery to pretend they can speak to the dead.
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*shrug*

They both provide information based on claims to knowledge that others don't possess. One uses a book, the other a "vision". At least the 'charlatans' only want you to give cash - they don't ask you to change your entire lifestyle based on their claims.

Both seem equally ridiculous and unfounded to me. But I recognise that some people can have different sets of beliefs.
 
Duff-Man said:
Both seem equally ridiculous and unfounded to me. But I recognise that some people can have different sets of beliefs.
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I can't say I particularly agree with either (I'm neither psychic nor religious, for the record), but I don't think there's a special place reserved in hell for religious believers who try and live a good life in service of their Lord; whereas there definitely is for scamming *******s who trick people out of money by playing on their emotions.

As you say - your mileage may vary ;)
 
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